Use an easy-to-read font and good quality plain paper and envelope.
Sell yourself first and follow this with key achievements and a brief career history. Leave your personal interests until last – and be brief and honest.
Keep your CV brief – ideally to two pages.
Back up any claims you make with examples or evidence and use facts wherever possible.
Express your academic and professional history and achievements in a way that relates to the employer’s needs. Make sure that you list your most recent employment details first and then work back in reverse chronological order – and don’t leave any unexplained gaps.
Put yourself in the recruiters’ shoes. Could you make a positive decision about you from your CV in 20 seconds?
As well as being clear and concise account of who you are, is it interesting to read and pertinent to the position you’re applying for?
Check carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. If possible, ask someone else to check too. Ideally keep an up-to-date electronic version saved in Word format so that you can respond promptly.
Check carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. If possible, ask someone else to check too. Ideally keep an up-to-date electronic version saved in Word format so that you can respond promptly.
Draft a short covering letter to highlight your interest and main qualifications for the position and send off with your CV.
